How to Identify your Skin Type

Identifying your skin type is essential before starting a skincare regime. If you don’t already know or understand your skin type, you aren't  benefitting enough from your skincare products. While all skin types benefit from moisturizers and SPF's, which ones you should be using, highly depend on what type of skin you have.

Although skin, being the largest organ in the body, is unique in every individual's case, however there are five primary categories: oily, dry, combination, sensitive and mature skin. Understanding your skin type is extremely important as it will help you find the right products and solutions to achieve your skincare goals.

Normal

How to Tell:

Your skin isn't prone to breakouts and doesn't react negatively to weather changes. You don't feel the constant need to moisturize or wipe off excess oil from your face all day long. Your skin is firm, with a balanced t-zone, minimal fine lines and flakiness. If you have normal skin, consider yourself lucky!

Oily/Acne-Prone Skin

How to Tell: Your skin always seems to be shining . You frequently use mattifying powders. You have to wipe off excess oil from you t-zone through out the day and probably must have noticed that your make up doesn't stay for as long as you want it to. This excess oil also leads to clogging, breakouts and blemishes which is why oily skin is also called acne prone skin.

Dry/Dehydrated

How to Tell: Dryness is caused by a lack of oil and moisture in the skin. The look and feel of this skin type consists of flakiness, sensitivity, itchiness and patches with an overall dehydrated look.

Combination 

How to Tell: Those who have areas that are both dry and oily, most likely have Combination skin. It is most commonly defined by an oily T-zone (Across the forehead and the line down the nose) and dry or normal skin on the rest of the face.

Sensitive

How to Tell: This skin type varies from person to person and may be difficult to identify as it may not always show visible signs except sudden reactions from certain ingredients in skin care products. Frequent rashes, bumps, burning sensation and irritation are common symptoms to this skin type. 

Mature

How to Tell: Every individual skin ages at a different pace, however that is the inevitable reality of human skin. It ages and changes with time. You might notice a wrinkle here and there or more dryness than in your younger years. Mature skin loses moisture at a faster pace and has dark spots and signs of dehydration. 

Apart from the obvious signs related to each skin type, there are three common tests that can help you determine your skin type, incase you are struggling in identifying it with mere symptoms examination. 

The Mirror Study Method 

Wash your face with a mild face wash which doesn't strip the skin, refrain from putting any products for at least 25-30 minutes. Examine your skin in the mirror, notice the size of your pores, the change of color and texture across your face. Does your skin feel tight or shiny? Do you notice enlarged pores and black heads? These symptoms should help you understand what category your skin falls into. 

The Blotting-Sheet Method 

Take a piece of paper, press it onto various areas of your skin, hold it up against the light to see how much oil it has absorbed. If You notice blots of oil absorbed in the paper you most likely have oily skin. If you notice oil blots absorbed from your forehead and your nose but not from your cheeks. You most likely have combination skin. If you notice little to no oil absorbed at all, you're likely have dry skin. 

The Index Finger or Pinching Test

Put your index finger under your cheek bone and lift the skin from there, hydrated skin will appear smooth while dehydrated skin will appear rough. Similarly if you pinch your skin and watch it revert to it's original state quickly, it could indicate your skin is hydrated and elastic.

If you are still unsure about your skin type, you could visit a dermatologist or skincare expert to identify correctly and choose products as per the requirements of your skin! You can consult our very own skincare expert at Arvelon for a free skincare consultation as well.